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Deborah Lyon smiling at a table by a lakeside window, surrounded by books including one about Hadrian's Wall
Writing at home, Windermere, 2024

Deborah Lyon

Deb has lived for almost 20 years in Cumbria. Before that she lived in London where she had a reasonably successful career discussing complicated financial stuff with journalists and investors in companies.

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Deborah Lyon is a born writer and this is an absolutely wonderful book. I loved its Cumbrian setting, and got completely involved not just in the time-travelling adventure but above all in the human stories: I found myself caring hugely about the characters, totally exhilarated and at times moved to tears. I’ve given a copy to every 8-15-year old I know, I urge everyone else to read it too, and I can’t wait for the next in the series.

Tim Robertson

Former Director of the Royal Society of Literature

Since childhood, she’d always loved the Lake District, so when she’d had enough of the financial world, she moved north. Her dream was always to settle and raise her family in Lakeland. She lives on the shores of Windermere with her husband Gez and her blended family of four children, two golden retrievers, a Border terrier, two guinea pigs and a variety of tropical fish. 

Her first book was a children’s travel guide to Cumbria, Lake District Unlocked, which was published in 2010. She has a Masters in Creative Writing and when she isn’t scribbling away, she runs a holiday let business with her husband.

Deb always wanted to write a series of children’s books and often came up with little stories for her own when they were small. The idea for Timewaif came from an inscription on Roman tombstone in a local museum and a dog walk through a ruined felltop fort. Obsessed by the idea that the Romans came to this beautiful corner of England two thousand years ago and built a society here, Deb began to research their lives, customs and history. This enduring passion led to Timewaif, a story where Tim Wainwright, a twelve-year-old boy with enough problems in his modern life, finds himself falling back in time to an even more challenging place. The first book will take us to the Romans…  but it won’t be the last. 

Here’s a link to Deb’s linked in page.

Deborah Lyon with her young son at a signing table covered in copies of Lake District Unlocked
Launch of Lake District Unlocked, Deb and Josh, Bowness on Windermere, 2010
A girl in school uniform reading a ring-bound manuscript at a wooden table by a window
Ava enjoying the Roman Road manuscript, Windermere, 2024

Questions and answers

Readers’ questions about Tim, Fellcrag and the history behind the books.

Is Fellcrag a real place?

No it’s imaginary and a mixture of lots of different villages. Hopefully it feels pretty real though!

How much of the history is real?

There’s only so much we can know for sure. The Roman road is real and still can be seen in places! There were definitely forts in the locations in the book and you can still visit the ruins and the bathhouse in Ravenglass. Some of the people were real such as Nepos and Flavius but lots are imaginary. The book is a mix of fact and well-researched guesswork. I’ve tried to make it as authentic as possible while keeping it a fun story!

What’s the significance of Fibonacci?

Fibonacci lived in Pisa in the twelfth century and studied mathematical principles. He came up with a sequence of numbers which replicates itself in nature again and again and can be seen in spiral shapes. This image becomes important in the books.

Why is Tim’s Mum so unhappy?

You’ll learn more about Sarah’s story as you read the book. Suffice it to say, she’s had a lot of sadness in her life and the latest tragedies have simply proved too much. Tim is struggling to care for her but is scared to seek help in case he is taken away from her.

What’s Martha and Gary’s story?

Martha was born in Fellcrag and grew up with Sarah and Adam, Tim’s parents. She met Gary when they were both trainee teachers in London. He was born in Barbados and his family came to London when he was very small. They both moved up to Fellcrag when Annie was little.

Who is Florence?

Florence is Sarah’s great aunt. Sarah came to live with her when she was a baby after her parents were killed in a car crash. Florence is quite forthright and opinionated but her heart’s in the right place.

What’s Bernard’s story?

Bernard is a bit of a man of mystery. His accent isn’t like anyone local but he doesn’t divulge much about his past. Maybe we’ll find out more in later books in the series!